Is GDDR2 better?

[cclloyd9785]

Is it better to have 512 MB DDR3 graphics memory or 128 MB GDDR2 graphics memory?

 

[bobkn]

Are you speaking of dedicated graphics RAM or shared system memory?

(I haven't recently seen discrete graphics cards that used other than graphics memory.)

 

[cclloyd9785]

dedicated memory.

 

[skunksmash]

Is it better to have 512 MB DDR3 graphics memory or 128 MB GDDR2 graphics memory?

well..... if both those RAM modules are ''on-board'' (i.e on the card itself), then they are both referred to as ''GDDR''.

if the above is the case..... 512mb GDDR3 is far better than, 128mb GDDR2

 

[cclloyd9785]

Well i dont know if its onboard or not. I was comparing 2 laptops.

1 had 512 MB DDR3 Dedicated memory
the other had 128 MB GDDR2 Dedicated memory.

 

[Fumz]

They're referring to two different parts. DDR3 is system ram. GDDR is graphics ddr, for your video card. Look at them both again. The DDR3 rig will have a graphics card, either third party or onboard, and the GDDR rig will have system RAM.

 

[cclloyd9785]

Well I dont get it then, I just checked again and under the catagory 'Graphics Memory Type' it says 512 MB DDR3 on one and 128 GDDR2 on the other.

Both of the system RAM said it was DDR2.

 

[Fumz]

It might just be a typo on the first? It's really not that big a deal anyway... it's not the memory that sets cards apart, it's the gpu. If you showed us both cards, we could just tell you which one was better.

 

[cclloyd9785]

I know one of them was in the ATI Radeon Mobility HD 4200 series. The other was a Nvedia card and thats all i know.

 

[Fumz]

Can you find the links to the cards?

 

[Wishmaster]

I think its refering to dedicated RAM for onboard graphics.

So if you have 4GB RAM,

it would be something like 512MB dediacted to graphics .. 3.5GB useable for everything else.

 

[Coolness]

It might just be a typo on the first? It's really not that big a deal anyway... it's not the memory that sets cards apart, it's the gpu. If you showed us both cards, we could just tell you which one was better.

The memory plays a really big part. The GPU needs memory, just like the CPU need memory. It wont function with low/none.
And whatever the case here is, ddr3 is always better than ddr2, and 512mb is always better tahn 128.

 

[Fumz]

I don't recall suggesting that video cards don't need memory. What I said was that it's the gpu that sets cards apart... and that's true.

Onboard memory isn't a consumer option... in other words, you can't say I want an 8800 with GDDR5 instead of GDDR4, so we make video card choices in terms of the gpu, and not the card's memory.

DDR3 is not "always" better than DDR2. The RAM is the same, only the speed is different, but that does not mean that automatically a GDDR3 card will outperform a GDDR2 card... we have no idea what type of antiquated cards we're talking about anyway, so we just can't make that assumption. Perhaps that 128mb card is a screamer and the 512 card is a budget card? We don't know yet, because the OP has yet to point the cards in question out.

It's a mistake to assume that because a card has more onboard RAM that it will be better/faster. For example, the 320MB 8800's are faster than the 640MB 8800's... go figure?

 

[Wishmaster]

I would also like to add that the Onboard memory for a GPU (the GPUS memory NOT system)
Helps with gaming textures etc.

For the most part, 512MB is enough for 1680x1050 and lower.
if you are gaming at 1080P or higher, I would say you want 1GB. and will help with higher res.

Now, If we are talking about intergrated graphics solution, please keep in mind they aren't really intended for gaming. Especially at Hi-resolutions.
So even intergrated graphics with 2GB ded. RAM, will be outperformed by a actual card with only 256mb RAM. (As far as gaming)

But if you plan on gaming, you really need a dedicated card.
Unfortunately, many laptops only offer integrated, which is why they are poor choices for a gaming machine.

For integrated graphics the amount of Video memory will not make a huge difference as they do not typically have the power to render advanced 3d images anyway.

I would say around 256ish would be fine for most everything else you'll do. in this situation, the speed really will not make any significant difference. (graphics wise)

 

[Coolness]

I don't recall suggesting that video cards don't need memory. What I said was that it's the gpu that sets cards apart... and that's true.

Onboard memory isn't a consumer option... in other words, you can't say I want an 8800 with GDDR5 instead of GDDR4, so we make video card choices in terms of the gpu, and not the card's memory.

DDR3 is not "always" better than DDR2. The RAM is the same, only the speed is different, but that does not mean that automatically a GDDR3 card will outperform a GDDR2 card... we have no idea what type of antiquated cards we're talking about anyway, so we just can't make that assumption. Perhaps that 128mb card is a screamer and the 512 card is a budget card? We don't know yet, because the OP has yet to point the cards in question out.

It's a mistake to assume that because a card has more onboard RAM that it will be better/faster. For example, the 320MB 8800's are faster than the 640MB 8800's... go figure?

I am not comparing cards here! I said, basically, that ddr3 memory is always faster than ddr2 memory, graphics or not. I did not say that a ddr3 card will automatically out-perform a ddr2 card, i mearly stated that ddr3 is faster than ddr2. Also, there is no such thing as gddr4, since ddr3 is 2x faster than ddr2, and ddr5 is 2x faster than ddr3.

 

[Fumz]

And whatever the case here is, ddr3 is always better than ddr2, and 512mb is always better tahn 128.

I am not comparing cards here! I said, basically, that ddr3 memory is always faster than ddr2 memory, graphics or not. I did not say that a ddr3 card will automatically out-perform a ddr2 card, i mearly stated that ddr3 is faster than ddr2. Also, there is no such thing as gddr4, since ddr3 is 2x faster than ddr2, and ddr5 is 2x faster than ddr3.

But we're talking about a graphics card, so we have to look at things in that context. In that respect, the onboard memory is not a determining factor in performance... which is what the OP wants to know... which card is better. Until we're able to see both, we can't make assumptions simply based on memory. Sure, there's a good chance that the 512 card is better, but until we know which two cards we're talking about, recommending one over the other willy-nilly is irresponsible.

Yes, there's no such thing as GDDR4... of course, if we're going to believe that we first have to ignore the fact that this card exists: Sapphire Radeon 4670 GDDR4 Review

DDR3 is not 2x faster than DDR2 and DDR5 is not 2x faster than DDR3. This is getting a bit off topic, but you can buy 1066MHz DDR3. It's no faster than 1066MHz DDR2.

Memory is rated; not set at any certain speed. The rated speed of DDR by jedec is 400MHz, but that doesn't mean you can't get most sticks to run faster than tha. DDR2's rated speed goes up to 1066MHz, but again, you can push it faster. DDR3 is 1066 and up.... etc etc... Speed increases, yes, but that's does not mean there's a technological leap at play that makes DDR3 is 2x faster than DDR2. It's all the same stuff, just a bit faster.

 

[cclloyd9785]

I couldnt find links.

And just to make things clear, I checked on bestbuy again and it had a few catagories of video cards.

there was some of various sized and then DDR2/DDR3 and then the same sizes but GDDR2/GDDR3

 

[Coolness]

And whatever the case here is, ddr3 is always better than ddr2, and 512mb is always better tahn 128.

I am not comparing cards here! I said, basically, that ddr3 memory is always faster than ddr2 memory, graphics or not. I did not say that a ddr3 card will automatically out-perform a ddr2 card, i mearly stated that ddr3 is faster than ddr2. Also, there is no such thing as gddr4, since ddr3 is 2x faster than ddr2, and ddr5 is 2x faster than ddr3.

But we're talking about a graphics card, so we have to look at things in that context. In that respect, the onboard memory is not a determining factor in performance... which is what the OP wants to know... which card is better. Until we're able to see both, we can't make assumptions simply based on memory. Sure, there's a good chance that the 512 card is better, but until we know which two cards we're talking about, recommending one over the other willy-nilly is irresponsible.

Yes, there's no such thing as GDDR4... of course, if we're going to believe that we first have to ignore the fact that this card exists: Sapphire Radeon 4670 GDDR4 Review

DDR3 is not 2x faster than DDR2 and DDR5 is not 2x faster than DDR3. This is getting a bit off topic, but you can buy 1066MHz DDR3. It's no faster than 1066MHz DDR2.

Memory is rated; not set at any certain speed. The rated speed of DDR by jedec is 400MHz, but that doesn't mean you can't get most sticks to run faster than tha. DDR2's rated speed goes up to 1066MHz, but again, you can push it faster. DDR3 is 1066 and up.... etc etc... Speed increases, yes, but that's does not mean there's a technological leap at play that makes DDR3 is 2x faster than DDR2. It's all the same stuff, just a bit faster.

ddr3 can be at maximun twice the speed of gddr2, and again, gddr5 can be at maximum twice the speed as gddr3. Do you even know what ist stands for? Graphics Double Data Rate, version 5. Also, i was wrong about gddr4, and i stand corrected, but the types of memory remain twice as fast as the last generation, in maximum speed. Since gddr3 can only do 2.6 Ghz max, and gddr5 can do 7.0 Ghz, its 3x faster.

 

[Fumz]

I couldnt find links.

And just to make things clear, I checked on bestbuy again and it had a few catagories of video cards.

there was some of various sized and then DDR2/DDR3 and then the same sizes but GDDR2/GDDR3

Hi cclloyd,

What's your budget? I'm quite sure if the fellas here put their heads together we can tell you what the best bang for your buck is?

... ddr3 can be at maximun twice the speed of gddr2, and again, gddr5 can be at maximum twice the speed as gddr3. Do you even know what ist stands for? Graphics Double Data Rate, version 5. Also, i was wrong about gddr4, and i stand corrected, but the types of memory remain twice as fast as the last generation, in maximum speed. Since gddr3 can only do 2.6 Ghz max, and gddr5 can do 7.0 Ghz, its 3x faster.

*sigh*

Coolness,

You made some blanket statements that were incorrect; not me. Before, you said, "always better". Now, you want to change it to, "at a maximum"... which is very different than what you said before.

Fine, have it your way... show me... link me to the 7GHz graphics card.

 

[Coolness]

I couldnt find links.

And just to make things clear, I checked on bestbuy again and it had a few catagories of video cards.

there was some of various sized and then DDR2/DDR3 and then the same sizes but GDDR2/GDDR3

Hi cclloyd,

What's your budget? I'm quite sure if the fellas here put their heads together we can tell you what the best bang for your buck is?

... ddr3 can be at maximun twice the speed of gddr2, and again, gddr5 can be at maximum twice the speed as gddr3. Do you even know what ist stands for? Graphics Double Data Rate, version 5. Also, i was wrong about gddr4, and i stand corrected, but the types of memory remain twice as fast as the last generation, in maximum speed. Since gddr3 can only do 2.6 Ghz max, and gddr5 can do 7.0 Ghz, its 3x faster.

*sigh*

Coolness,

You made some blanket statements that were incorrect; not me. Before, you said, "always better". Now, you want to change it to, "at a maximum"... which is very different than what you said before.

Fine, have it your way... show me... link me to the 7GHz graphics card.

I could be wrong. I have began to understand that... But here: GDDR5 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hynix 2Gb GDDR5 boasts with 7GHz clock speed.

There. Of course its wikipedia, so it could be wrong, but thats where i read it.